As winter finally turns to spring here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, there will be even more appealing excuses to sneak away and enjoy a twisty two-lane adventure! The Kia K5 has been an incredibly eye-catching car since it was reworked for the 2021 model year, quickly gaining a name for itself when it stormed the scene to replace the Kia Optima. There was then a more powerful engine placed in the Kia K5 GT, and for 2025 the Car and Driver crew took a close look at the sporty sedan’s thorough refresh.
One of the coolest new additions is the “Star Map” LED front daytime running lights, a brand-new front fascia, and flared fins that angle up nicely to define the new honeycomb lower grille. In the back, the tail lights turn down prominently at the corners and glow below the truck lid. There’s also an integrated spoiler and 16-inch wheels on the base-level LX trim. There are 18-inch models on the EX and GT-Line and the GT also boasts 19-inch Pirelli P-Zeros.
Screen-obsessed is a way of life (and signature rolling off the line trait!) for many of today’s cars. It seems like they steadily keep growing each year, and it’s easy to see why: once drivers got a taste of the way a larger-sized infotainment center improves the drive, manufacturers went straight to work cranking out updates! Inside the 2025 Kia K5 there’s a 12-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch center touchscreen. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and all models also feature Kia’s new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit.
This efficient cockpit system offers lightning-fast data processing and over-the-air-update capability. The first thing the crew noticed on their test drive was conveniently larger cup holders, the sweet wireless charging pad, and USB-C ports. The entry-level 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder has now edged out of the picture, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder in its place boasting an extra 11 horses for a total of 191. This powertrain is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and comes in the LXS, EX, and GT-Line trims.
The GT trim is where things get avidly more exciting, with the 2.5-turbocharged 4-cylinder that cranks out 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The GT Model also receives a standard set of bright green brake calipers to accompany the seat stitching. The 2025 K5 was officially revealed at the Chicago Auto Show on Feb. 8th, with new technology, more standard features, and the new base-model engine.
The current K5 remains athletic and attractive, with its recent refresh allowing it to stand out on the road. With competition such as the Honda Accord consistently in the mix to rival its chops, the Edmunds.com review team deemed the Kia K5 as “intuitively laid out with thoughtful spaces for odds and ends and offering a comfortable space for both drivers and passengers.” Don’t forget to check out the added benefits of the EX trim, which now comes standard with a heated steering wheel, Bose premium audio system, and useful phone-as-key function!
